Shoeshine kit



June 4, 1957 w, IL 2,794,204

SHOESHINE KIT Filed March 23, 1953 I0 32 Fig.4

- 36 I 6 Josef/1 W. Hill ,5 l4 INVENTOR.

United States PatentO SHOESHINE KIT Joseph W. Hill, Mattoon, Ill., assignor of fifty percent to William J. Mettler, Mattoon, Iii.

Application March 23, 1953, Serial No. 343,897 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-258) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in shoeshine kits and has for its primary object to provide, in a single portable unit, a device of this character comprising a brush, a buffer or polisher, a paste container and a dauber or applicator.

Another important object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a kit of the aforementioned character wherein the brush, the paste container and the dauber will be enclosed and substantially concealed from view when the device is not in use.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide a shoeshine kit of the character described which embodies novel means for releasably securing the brush in either operative or inoperative position.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a shoeshine kit of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efiicient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight, attractive in appearance 'and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a shoeshine kit constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device, showing the brush in operative position.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the device, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises an elongated case of suitable plastic, which case may be of any desired dimensions. The case 10 includes a top 11, integral side walls 12 and an integral bottom 13. As best seen in Figure 4 of the drawing, the side walls 12 of the case 10 comprise inwardly projecting longitudinal ribs 14 providing thumb and finger receiving grooves or channels 15 to facilitate obtaining a good grip or said case.

The case 10 still further includes an open inner or rear end 16. The forward or outer end of the case 10 is closed by a swinging closure 17. The closure 17 is mounted on the bottom 13 of the case 10 through the medium of a spring hinge 18. The free end portion of the closure 17 has formed therein a transverse slot 19 the purpose of which will be presently set forth. The forward upper portion of the case 10 is formed to provide an opening 20 which communicates with the Open forward end of said case.

A closure 21 is provided for the opening 20. A hinge 22 connects one end of the closure 21 to the top 11 of the case 10, said hinge including a depending leaf 23.

taken substantially The closure 21 comprises longitudinal marginal portions 24 of arcuate cross-section which conform to the curvature of the case 10 and the longitudinal edges of which abut the opposed longitudinal edge portions of the side walls 12 when said closure 21 is in closed position.

Mounted on the closure 21 is a brush 25. The brush 25 includes a back 26 which is fixed to the closure 21,. Bristles 27 are embedded in the back 26. At one end, the back.26 is swivelly connected as at 28 to the leaf 23 of the hinge 22 for rotatably mounting the closure 21 on said hinge. Projecting longitudinally from the forward end of the back 26 is an integral tongue 29 which is engageable in the slot 19 of the closure 17 for releasably securing the brush 25 in inoperative or operative position as shown, respectively, in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing.

Mounted longitudinally on the bottom 13 of the case 10 is a buffing or polishing strip 30 of lambs wool. A backing pad or strip. 31 of suitable material is interposed between the buffer 30. and the case 10. The end portions of the members 30 and 31 are adhesively secured to the bottom 13 of the case 10.

The open inner or rear end portion of the case 10 slidably receives the removable paste container 32. The paste container 32 is frictionally retained in the case 10 between the ribs 14 of said case, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawing. The container 32 comprises a box 33 for the reception of the paste, as at 34. The box 33 comprises an enlarged inner or rear end wall 35 which abuts the open inner end 16 of the case 10 when the container 32 is inserted in said case. When so inserted, the edges of the end wall 35 of the box 33 are substantially flush with the periphery of the case 10. A removable cover 36 of the slip type is provided for the box 33.

Fixed on the forward end wall of the box cover 36 is a downwardly and forwardly curved arm 37. Mounted beneath the free end portion of the arm 37 is a dauber or applicator 38 of suitable material.

It is thought that the use of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, when it is desired to use the brush 25, the closure 17 is swung forwardly against the tension of the spring hinge 18 out of engagement with the tongue 29. The brush 25, together with the closure 21, are then swung upwardly to a substantially vertical position on the hinge 22. The brush 25 is then rotated on the hinge leaf 23 through the medium of the swivel 28. With the bristles 27 thus reversed, the brush 25 is swung downwardly to operative position where it is again secured by engaging the tongue 29 in the slot 19 of the closure 17. Engagement of the relatively wide tongue 29 in the transverse slot 19 of the closure 17 also secures the brush 25 against rocking on the swivel mounting 28. Of course, to return the brush 25 to inoperative position the foregoing operation is reversed. When it is desired to use the polish or paste 34, the container 32 is withdrawn from the rear end portion of the case 10 and the cover 36 is removed from the box 33 for exposing said paste or polish. The dauber or applicator 38 is then dipped into the paste in an obvious manner, the box cover 36 serving as a handle. When sufficient paste has been had the cover 36 is replaced and the container 32 is again inserted in the rear end portion of the case 10. In addition to permitting a firm grip to be had on the case 10, the grooves or channels 15 also expose the marginal end portions of the wall 35 of the box 33 in a manner to facilitate withdrawal of the container 32 from the case 10. As hereinbefore stated, the container 32 is frictionally retained in the case 10. After the paste has been applied the buffer 30 is used in the usual manner for shining the shoe.

It is believed that the many advantages of a shoeshine struction and in the combination parts may be resorted to which will of the invention as claimed.

'ing a closure hingedly mounted on one end and having a slot therein,

3 kit constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of conand arrangement of fall within the scope What is claimed as new is as follows: 1. A shoeshine kit comprising an elongated case, a brush having one end hingedly and swivelly connected to the case for compound swinging and rotary move ment to operative or inoperative position, and a single means on the free end of the brush and on the case for securing said brush in either position, said means includof the case and a tongue on the brush engageable in the slot when said closure is in closed position.

2. A shoeshine kit comprising a case, a brush hingedly connected to said case for swinging movement about a first aXis and swivelly connected to said case for rotary movement about a second axis normal to the first axis whereby said brush may be inverted on said case, and single means on the case for releasably securing the said means including a closure hingedly mounted on the case and engageable, when in closed position, with the brush for retaining same against movement on said case.

3. A shoeshine kit comprising an elongated case open at one end, a brush hingedly connected to said case for swinging movement about a first axis and swivelly connected to the case for rotary movement about a second axis normal to the first axis whereby said brush may be inverted, a hinged closure on the open end of the case having a slot therein, and a tongue on the brush engage able in the slot for releasably securing said brush in either position.

brush in either position,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 348,468 Lee Aug. 31, 1886 1,061,276 Ellis May 13, 1913 1,085,531 Boise Jan. 27, 1914 1,765,065 Fear June 17, 1930 2,173,504 Wagner Sept. 19, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 296,258 Great Britain Aug. 30, 1928 

